August 2012 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
August 2012
News
Rehab claims scrutinized, expert warns
Nursing home administrators who can't back up every minute of rehab therapy delivered in their building leave themselves open to auditing, an MDS 3.0 expert ...
GOP pledges to fight on after vote saves healthcare reform
Who says one vote doesn't matter? The Supreme Court preserved the Affordable Care Act because a conservative judge decided that a liberal president's expanded healthcare ...
60 Seconds with...Marilyn Tavenner
A big part of our effort has been working closely with states to begin building new health insurance marketplaces, the Affordable Insurance Exchanges, where Americans ...
McKnight's earns more awards
McKnight's Long-Term Care News recently captured six APEX Awards. The tally includes a Grand Award for its website, www.mcknights.com.
OIG: Antipsychotics use rarely compliant
An overwhelming percentage of nursing facilities reviewed were not compliant with regulations regarding residents who take atypical antipsychotic medications, according to a recent federal report.
MRSA rates dip amid changes
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates are falling in both healthcare facilities and in communities, suggesting a change in how MRSA is being transmitted and prevented, a ...
Vitamin doses cut break risk
Daily vitamin D supplementation prevents fractures in the elderly, but only in higher doses, Tufts University researchers said.
Private room: $222 per day
The cost of living in a long-term care facility increased steadily over the last year while home care costs have stayed flat, a Genworth Financial ...
Liability costs rising: report
Long-term care operators have had to pay 4% more annually in liability costs over the past three years, a new analysis shows.
ACA decision raises Medicaid questions
The Supreme Court's historic 5-4 Affordable Care Act decision clarifies insurance rules. But the controversial verdict appears to make Medicaid's requirements and boundaries less certain ...
State News
State news: Dementia care, training the focus of reform efforts
Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has signed off on sweeping reforms designed to improve dementia care in nursing homes. The law includes a requirement for minimum ...
Features
Pass the smell test
Many providers risk rejection by underinvesting in laundry or housekeeping units, putting their reputations in peril and driving away potential residents.
In search of support
Providers can use help navigating the terms and conditions of the pressure-relief surface market; here's what you need to know to enhance resident care.
Ask the care expert
Ask the care expert: Can we limit med passes to three times a day?
This answer is directly from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: "We have no regulation that requires medications to be ordered for specific clock times. ...
Resident care
Safety concerns squash elders' intimacy
Nursing home residents often are deprived of consensual sexual relationships due to concern for their safety and a lack of sufficient formal policies dealing with ...
Loneliness has major impact on mortality, function decline
A deep sense of loneliness is not just an indicator of a person's mental health — new research says it also can be linked to ...
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the treatment expert: Are allergies to wound care products common?
Years ago, this question wouldn't have even made our radar screen. However, now it seems a standard consideration since allergies have become increasingly prevalent.
Wound care
Literature review offers care guidance
A comprehensive literature review has revealed new perspective for the care of chronic and other wounds. Full findings appear in the British Journal of Surgery.
High-tech wound dressing is shown to fight infection
University of Wisconsin researchers have demonstrated how an ultra-thin layer of polymer impregnated with a surgical antibacterial can help healing by preventing infection.
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the nursing expert: What's the best way for SNFs to reduce readmissions?
Start by bringing your community leaders together as an advisory board to discuss collaboration to improve quality of care in the community.
Nursing
Group: Reimburse coordination of care
Care coordination functions, as carried out by registered nurses, should be federally reimbursed, a leading nurses group says.
Expert: Staff cohesion crucial to providing top quality care
Strong working relationships and good communication among nursing home caregivers enhances the perception of staff cohesion, which ultimately leads to a higher quality of care, ...
Ask the payment expert
Ask the payment expert: What's the best way to maximize Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement?
It depends on which state you are in as to which Medicaid reimbursement program you are managed under. For the RUGs III Medicaid reimbursed states, you ...
Payment & policy
Court curtails union fees
The U.S. Supreme Court came down against organized labor recently in a 7-2 ruling that opens the door for objections to unexpected fee increases or ...
Report: States headed for Medicaid funding upheaval
Regardless of whether states choose to expand Medicaid under healthcare reform law, they are facing huge fiscal crisis conditions, largely due to rising healthcare costs ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the legal expert: Are pregnant employees covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act?
Pregnancy alone is not considered a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Only conditions that are the result of a physiological disorder are "impairments" ...
Legal Matters
Residents sue SNF over staffing, safety
Five residents of a for-profit California skilled nursing facility sued a Mariner Health Care Inc. facility in June, alleging inadequate staffing and an unsafe environment.
WV negligence lawsuit gets another day in the courtroom
A verdict against a nursing home of slightly over $90 million is being reconsidered in West Virginia due to a verdict-form error.
Pursuing excellence
Inaction may seal our fate
The 4th of July is usually a really great time to feel warmly about America. But after watching my dog driven insane by a barrage ...
How to do it…
How to do it... Resident security
Few things are more important to long-term care providers than their residents' safety. There's far more to security than just wandering alarms and locked doors. ...
A day in the life
Taking the 'blues' out of 'bluegrass'
Bluegrass fans are well-versed in the music's invigorating effects. Now, residents at a Silver Spring, MD-continuing care retirement community have ample opportunity to both play ...
I couldn't live without...
I couldn't live without...Frogman Interactive
Vicki Ullery, marketing director at Royal Oaks Lifecare Community, in Sun City, AZ, says the interactive marketing tools Frogman Interactive has designed makes her job ...
Technology
Experts: Push EHR progress even if feds won't help pay
Long-term care providers might not be eligible for federal meaningful use incentives for electronic health records. But that does not mean that facilities should ignore ...
Company news
Ciena SNFs are refinanced
Capital One Bank closed a five-year $29 million loan for Ciena Healthcare in July.
Genesis facilitates Sun set with multimillion dollar deal
Genesis HealthCare agreed in June to purchase rival Sun Healthcare Group in a transaction that should close the second half of 2012.
Business & Marketing
Invest aggressively
Last month, I wrote about three potential conflicts that might arise when ministries, nonprofits and companies work with investments. One of my goals is to ...
The big picture
Time to revamp Medicaid
As this goes to press, many of the nation's governors are sorting out a major Medicaid decision: Take the money or run.
Editor’s desk
Lawsuits and resulting costs remain an anchor
In case you had not checked lately, you're liable to be paying more than ever just to run your basic eldercare business.
Profile
Optimistic man with plan
As the ranking Republican member on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Bob Corker has witnessed firsthand the debates on antipsychotic legislation, long-term care financing ...
